H 5284 General Bill, By Pitts, Parker, Brantley, Bowen, Cobb-Hunter, Howard, 
Williams, Spires, Tribble, McEachern, Gambrell, G.A. Brown, Forrester, 
Funderburk, Jefferson, V.S. Moss, J.H. Neal, Quinn and Willis
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-11-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR A CANDIDATE TO FILE AND RUN FOR PARTISAN
 OFFICES IN A PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION, SO AS TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY
 OF A COUNTY TO TRANSFER ALL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CANDIDATE FILING AND
 QUALIFICATION FROM THE RESPECTIVE COUNTY PARTY CHAIRMEN OR COUNTY EXECUTIVE
 PARTY COMMITTEES TO THE AUTHORITY CHARGED BY LAW WITH CONDUCTING THE ELECTION.

   05/16/12  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 10)
   05/16/12  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 10)

TO AMEND SECTION 7-11-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR A CANDIDATE TO FILE AND RUN FOR PARTISAN OFFICES IN A PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION, SO AS TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY TO TRANSFER ALL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CANDIDATE FILING AND QUALIFICATION FROM THE RESPECTIVE COUNTY PARTY CHAIRMEN OR COUNTY EXECUTIVE PARTY COMMITTEES TO THE AUTHORITY CHARGED BY LAW WITH CONDUCTING THE ELECTION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    The first paragraph of Section 7-11-15(3) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 3 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(3)    Candidates seeking nomination for a countywide or less than countywide office shall file their statements of intention of candidacy with the county executive committee of their respective party. Notwithstanding another provision of law, the governing body of a county by ordinance may transfer, to the authority charged by law with conducting the election, all responsibilities relating to candidate filing and qualification performed by the respective county party chairmen or the county executive party committees pursuant to Chapters 11 and 13 of this title. A county ordinance enacted pursuant to this item does not apply to candidates seeking nomination for a statewide, congressional, or district office that includes more than one county."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.